Librarian III (Branch Manager)

City of Avondale, AZ; Avondale (AZ); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Health & wellness benefits

Job summary

The City of Avondale, AZ is seeking a Librarian III (Branch Manager) to oversee a library branch, lead staff, manage budgets, and drive programming for diverse community needs. You will coordinate with city administration and partners to deliver excellent patron services and innovative library programs.

The role requires leadership, strategic planning, and a commitment to equity in access to library resources and services across Avondale.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in library science or a closely related field.
• Three years of professional library experience involving budgets, collection development, and planning, implementing, and evaluating multiple community programs.
• Two years of direct supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversees all aspects of managing and supervising a library branch, including staffing, scheduling, facility maintenance, collection development, policies and procedures, customer relations, reporting, and programming.
• Provides communication between the library branch, city administration, partner organizations, and customers.
• Ensures excellent and consistent patron services and overall branch operations.
• Represents the library to community organizations and coordinates partner-led programs and services.
• Contributes to public engagement via networking, presentations, social media, and collaboration with city marketing staff.
• Reviews budgets, maintains staffing levels, purchases within the branch budget, and prepares statistical reports.

Skills

Budget management

Staff supervision

Program development

Community outreach

Policy interpretation

Education

Master's Degree in Library Science / Information Science

Job description

Position

The City of Avondale is accepting applications for Librarian III (Branch Manager).

Recruitment Status

This recruitment will remain open until filled. First review of applications will occur on 09/02/2026.

Job Description

Oversees all aspects of managing and supervising a library branch, including staffing, scheduling, facility maintenance, collection development, policies and procedures, customer relations, community partnerships, reporting, and programming. Provides communication between the library branch, city administration, partner organizations, and customers. Ensures excellent and consistent patron services. Accepts responsibility for the overall effectiveness of branch operations.

Essential Functions

• Assists the Arts, Culture & Library Manager with establishing, evaluating, and revising system goals, objectives, policies, and procedures; implementing, monitoring, and reporting results of strategic initiatives and maintaining accurate statistical records thereof; managing contracts, budgets, financial reporting, and expenditure plans; and may be responsible for library system operations in the absence of the Arts, Culture & Library Manager.
• Develops and implements goals, programs, services, policies, and procedures for a library branch. Finds the most effective and efficient ways to implement new initiatives.
• Interprets and explains library policies, objectives, and services to community groups, business and educational leaders, publishing agency representatives, other City departments, and the general public. Supervises, hires, trains, evaluates, and provides exemplary leadership to all staff. Monitors and appraises employee performance. Ensures staff are knowledgeable of all library policies, procedures, resources, and services and can refer patrons as needed. Schedules staff and authorizes leave to ensure an equitable distribution of work and adequate staffing in both long-term and daily work.
• Represents the library to community organizations in the service area. Coordinates, manages, and promotes partner-led Library programs and services with an emphasis on underserved and high-need populations and programs aligning with the Avondale Strategic Plan. Oversees implementation of children, teen, and adult programming performed by staff and community partners, including overseeing mobile library operations.
• Contributes to public engagement with programs and services through active networking, public presentations, social media engagement, relationship building with relevant organizations, and collaboration with the City's marketing staff.
• Reviews and selects library materials and digital access to library materials for purchase based on established selection criteria and the needs of the community. Oversees marketing of library collections.
• Reviews annual budget with the Arts, Culture & Library Manager. Maintains staffing levels and purchases within the branch budget. Oversees supplies ordering. Researches and prepares the library's statistical reports. Reconciles library deposits and maintains revenue spreadsheets. Writes and applies for grants; manages grant execution, activities, and reporting.
• Provides exceptional customer service by responding to customer queries and concerns, assisting customers with digital devices, and promoting all material types and products. Continuously monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures including a high level of customer service; identifies opportunities for improvements.
• Submits work tickets for repairs and evaluates library branch regularly for outages/repairs/cleanliness. Ensures that facilities are safe, welcoming, and healthy for staff and patrons.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Library, Information Science, or a closely related field or any equivalent combination of experience, education, and technical training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities, may qualify.
• Three (3) years of professional library experience working with budgets, collection development, and planning, implementing, and evaluating multiple community programs.
• Two (2) Years Of Supervisory Experience Is Required.

Benefits

• The City of Avondale offers a comprehensive benefits package with outstanding health and wellness benefits, financial perks, work-life balance, and more. Explore our Benefits Guide for full details!

Application Questions

01

Select from the options below your highest level of completed education.

• Not completed High School
• High school or GED
• Associates or Vocational Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree or higher

02

Do you have an MLIS degree? If not, what is the field of study of your highest degree?

03

How many years of experience do you have managing or monitoring budgets, including responsibilities such as tracking expenditures, managing purchases and supplies, reconciling revenues, preparing financial reports, or managing grant funds?

• 0-11 months experience
• 1 year
• 2 years
• 3 years
• 4 years
• 5 years
• 6 years
• 7 years
• 8 years
• 9 or more years

04

How many years of experience do you have selecting library materials and digital resources based on established selection criteria and community needs, as well as promoting library collections through marketing or outreach efforts?

• 0-11 months
• 1 year
• 2 years
• 3 years
• 4 years
• 5 years
• 6 years
• 7 years
• 8 years
• 9 or more years

05

How many years of experience do you have in planning, implementing, and evaluating multiple community programs?

• 0-11 months
• 1 year
• 2 years
• 3 years
• 4 years
• 5 years
• 6 years
• 7 years
• 8 years
• 9 or more years

06

Do you have two or more years of direct supervisory experience?

• Yes
• No

07

Do you have a valid Arizona Drivers' License or the ability to obtain one at time of hire?

• Yes
• No
• Required Question